The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) has issued a tender to procure 1 GW of grid connected solar power through a tariff based bidding process. The discom is looking to meet its renewable purchase obligation (RPO) through this tender.

The discom has set a ceiling tariff of 3.00 INR ($0.047) per kWh. MSEDCL will enter a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the winners for a period of 25 years.

Selection of projects would be technology agnostic within PV technology and crystalline silicon or thin film and with or without trackers. Minimum capacity for projects will be 2 MW at a single location. Successful bidders will have 13 months to start commercial operation of their projects from the date of execution of the PPA unless the projects are above 250 MW and are being developed outside of a solar park – in this case developers have 15 months to go online.

Winning bidders would need to secure all requisite permits and clearances and also connect their projects to the transmission utility.

Bid documents need to be submitted by January 20, 2018. Technical bids will be opened on January 22, 2018 and financial bids will be opened on February 1, 2018. Further details about the tender are available on MSEDCL’s website.